The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is the story about Queen Talyien and her journey as a ruler. She is feared and hated by a lot of people because of the reputation preceded about her hard hitting ways. She goes to meet her estranged husband after five years and trouble follows her there and the story unfolds.

This is a very intense story with beautiful writing and imagery and it will suck you in the story immediately. It is about a woman who has gone through it all and is trying to stay alive while the wolves circle her. The story is compelling and Talyien’s story is complex and it really shocked me in the best way. I did not know what to expect going in but the story and its characters really amaze you. The pacing of the book was fantastic and the narrative style was addictive and character driven which keeps you intrigued throughout. There’s also a sense of suspense about the backstory and the reasons for Talyien’s actions which all come together really well.

Overall, read this book if you’re a fan of character driven high fantasy with excellent world building and complex characters. This is definitely a must read and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

The Wolf of Oren-yaro follows the story of Queen Talyien of the Jin-Sayeng, the first woman to ever sit the Dragonthrone. Her marriage to the rival clan’s heir, Rayyel, was supposed to unite the fractured lands, ruled by warring Dragonlords. However, Rayyel leaves the night before their coronation, and she is crowned alone. Five years later, Rayyel has finally requested a meeting with his wife, and Talyien is all too eager to reconcile, even if she might be walking into a trap.

If I’m being honest- this story is not quite what I was hoping for. There is action and adventure, there is political intrigue, but mostly, this is a story about a failed marriage, and a woman who would go to seemingly any length to make it work. I was often frustrated with the amount of inner monologue dedicated to the husband when Tali also had a son at home to think about. I was frustrated at the selfishness of her, at the infuriating decisions she makes.

Despite the fact that I am also a single mother, I found Talyien very hard to relate to. I know every family situation is different, and Talyien’s choices are valid, but felt very dated. Almost every scene that brought up Rayyel I was thinking to myself- “Why hasn’t she kicked him to the curb yet?!” I wanted her to want to be more independent then she seemed, and at the end, during the final climactic scene, I was pretty disappointed with her feelings on the matter. Her husband is definitely not the sort of man I’d waste breath on, that’s for sure.

My issues with Tali aside- it doesn’t take long for the action to start, and the action scenes strike the perfect balance of excitement without overextending themselves. Tali finds herself in all kinds of interesting situations, and if you aren’t looking too closely at the logic of the plot, I think the right reader could have a lot of fun with this book. There were some scenes I found myself laughing along with, and it kept the pages turning.

The writing was mostly good. There were a few places where it felt amateurish and the dialogue a little stiff- but for the most part I have few complaints. The pacing could use a little work. The book seemed like it fell into a pattern at some point- we’d get some action, then a flashback scene, and then a few chapters of Tali’s thoughts on the whole thing. I wasn’t always sure the flashback scenes were needed, although they did occasionally give some nice backstory.

I’m not really sure this book or series is right for me, but plenty of readers are already enjoying it, so take my review with a grain of salt. Thank you to Orbit Books who provided an eGalley in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: 5/10

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is an asian-inspired adventure fantasy about a Queen trying to find herself while traveling in an area unknown to her, and without the help of her allies. Queen Talyien finds herself in the most dangerous situations, and she does not know who to trust. As things continue to get worse, she eventually finds some clues as to where her husband, Rayyel, has been taken after an assassination attempt and sets off to find him and bring him home.

This story is told from Queen Talyien’s (“Tal”) perspective, and I had a hard time connecting with her in this story. She made bad decision after bad decision, and her internal monologue would always tell her ahead of time it was not the right action to take – she always did it, anyway. Every person she came in contact with felt like the same thought-loop: “I cannot trust this person. I am going to trust them, anyway, because I do not have a choice.” I think she always had another choice, but took the wrong road every time. I found her to be quite frustrating.

Speaking of trusting people, I have never read a book before that had so many characters with so few who had positive impact on the story. There was 1 character in this book (Khine) who was redeemable in any kind of way, and even then the reader spends the whole book wondering whether or not he is going to betray her in the end. Add in the fact that the overall tone of the book was super dark, and I walked away from this book feeling down – like the weight of the whole story had been pressing down on me for 400+ pages. I like my adventure fantasies higher up on the whimsical scale.

One of the things that kept me reading was the fact that many of the plot points felt so random, that I was always wondering what kind of situation Tal was going to find herself in next. There is also this big mystery surrounding her husband Rai: his disappearance, where he has been, why he called this meeting, and what it means for the future of the kingdom. That is the aspect of the story that held my interesting and was the light at the end of the tunnel.

After hanging on to that little piece of hope the whole time, the ending was unsatisfying for me, as well.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is an action–packed adventure fantasy set in an asian-inspired world. It is a deep and heavy, and it was just not for me. I recommend this for anyone who likes their adventure fantasy on the darker side.

My thought when I finished this book… wow, just wow. I binge read this all day and was surprised that I could finish this book before 5 PM. That being said, there was no room for me to catch my breath because Villoso puts obstacles after obstacles that made me hard to put this book down. It was rather out of the box to read a fast paced book with excellent world-building and character development. Somehow, I didn’t feel overwhelmed by how fast this book goes—it didn’t feel like Villoso cramps everything in one book.

Now, moving on with the world building. How I put this into words? First of all, I just want to say, this book is important for me because it’s a Southeast Asian-inspired fantasy book that brings up so many Asian cultures—especially Filipino cultures.

It always warms my heart to see and learn other Asian culture. With The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, it’s truly magical to see these cultures merge together and produce an amazing fantasy world.

My favorite part of this book (aside from the world building) is how real the character feels. When it comes to fantasy world, sometimes author only focuses on the world building to the point the characters feel unreal and—often—two dimensional.

I love strong female character and Talyien is no exception. Talyien is an epitome of strong; she was expected to become a ruthless ruler, she could wield sword and fight well—but behind all of her interior, Talyien is insecure and often makes the same mistake. She’s a ruler, a mother, a wife and she plays her roles as she knows how. What makes Talyien feels real is, despite how strong she’s portrayed to be, she still has imperfection that makes her human. I feel sympathetic with her throughout the book and it feels like watching someone you know get through the ups and lows on her life.

Overall, I really love this book! The Wolf of Oren-Yaro holds a special place in my heart and I wanna thank K.S. Villoso for bringing Filipino culture to the world.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro follows Talyien, the Dragonlord of Jin-Sayeng, five years after her husband left her to rule over their already divided people. Issues and disagreements have been piling up for years, and the generals surrounding her are watching her every move. To keep the peace, she agrees to leave her land to the foreign city of Anzhao for peace talks with her estranged husband. Already out of her depth, she finds herself on the run when the negotiations go awry. Alone, in a nation unfamiliar to her, Talyien must survive the unknown if she wishes to return home.

I’ll admit it; I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into when I decided to apply to join this blog tour. But I’m delighted I did. Oren-Yaro is a staggering journey of survival. From story to characters, to overall setting, this book was a unique read. Villoso delivers on what she sets out to achieve, and while I found myself a little overwhelmed by the world, the focus of this story wasn’t something I could pinpoint in certain moments, but I liked it like that. Which sounds very weird since, as a reader, I like having some awareness of where the story could go as I’m reading, but honestly, I flew through this book so quickly, I didn’t even care. This book was a wild ride, so much was happening; it all didn’t settle in until I reached the very last page.

The main plot is essentially Talyien on the run after the botched peace meeting, and from there on out, she’s on her own until she’s joined by an unlikely companion who is yet to realise the severity of her situation. For the first time, she is without royal status so she must be resourceful when handling incoming enemies. My first initial reaction to Talyien was that I was a little wary. I thought I wouldn’t like her as a character. For a while, I didn’t get why she was hung up on her husband and why she was so determined to believe he was the same man that she had fallen in love with. But under her “Bitch Queen” exterior, the one who is quick to insult the nearest individual was an insecure person who has a lot to lose should her plan go sideways. She is the daughter of a ruthless warlord, and she was left to inherit the violent legacy he left behind. Her marriage was supposed to save the land, but instead leaves her life, and her son, in extreme danger where the scale can tip at any given moment. Because of this, she is continually jumping from one threat to another, not thinking really about her actions because her survival is her #1 priority. When your family is notoriously known for being murderous and violent, I was thrilled to see that she wasn’t stereotyped to fit that one role.

As I mentioned before, Talyien is accompanied by a surprising character. Khine is a con man, loyal to a local lord who momentarily holds Talyien under his thumb. He was a fantastic character; I wasn’t too sure how I would feel about such a soft-hearted character amid all this darkness. But, honestly, his arc is pulled off so well, I enjoyed his backstory. The entire book is dependent on its people to guide you. While the world-building is immense and detailed, the people will grab your interest, even when you hate their guts.

If you had to ask for something remotely critical, I would say the pacing is not going to be for every reader that picks this book up. The story takes its time to gain momentum, and it will depend on you as reader whether you’ll find it boring or exciting. I found it quite compelling, and it allowed me to get to understand the world because I know I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much if I didn’t have the build-up beforehand. Also, I enjoyed the flashbacks to Talyien’s time as a child and growing up as a princess. As a reader who finds them more of a miss than hits, it helped with the story.

Overall, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro was a smash of a series opener. Villoso takes us all on a thrilling ride to remember. Talyien’s story is far from over, the danger continues, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. This is a story not to be missed!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Caffeine Book Tours, Netgalley, and Orbit Books for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.

Oh my freaking gosh! Seriously I’m so damn glad that I got to read this novel, and I seriously cannot wait to read the next one and just have a new to me author to love and cheer for.

The people of this world call Talyien the Bitch Queen, and quite frankly I feel like she’s really taken to that title. She took that bad meaning of the word and turned it on its head. Sure, when they called her the Bitch Queen, it’s because they were calling her a female wolf. The wolf of Oren-Yaro, right. But they also meant it in a derogatory way, and to me, Talyien is that bitch. That bitch queen that should not be taken for granted, should not be underestimated. She has that kind of power that I could only dream of having.

Ugh I just can’t get enough of this book though! Seriously I don’t even know how to put my thoughts in to words and I just was so impressed with Talyien and everything that she did and would do for her people. I don’t think her people even considered that as well, and they just saw that she killed a man the night before she was supposed to be crowed Queen. Nothing wrong with a little death mixed with royalty, you know? And then she also sent her husband away as well. Sure, I could see some people feeling a little salty about that, but no. I don’t even blame her. She made the right decision, and she was one of the characters that I wouldn’t even think about betraying or anything. Her story was amazing, and I think that she made an amazing Queen.

(Link will go live 03/06)

I was sent an ARC of this book from the publisher. Having never heard of it, I kind of glanced at it and put it on the pile. But, after a few disappointing reads (ones that gave signs of being disappointments almost from the very first page), when I picked this one up, started reading, and looked up not long later having already somehow read ten chapters, I knew that I had finally found a read to break the spell. The rest of the book didn't let me down!

Talyien has grown up knowing what it is to be immediately distrusted and disliked. Her father lead an unpopular revolt, and even though it ended with a marriage proposal between his daughter and the leading rival family's son, Talyien's people have walked a tight line ever since. When her husband of three years mysteriously walks out on the eve of the both his and her coronation, Talyien finds herself ruling alone, now disliked and distrusted more than ever. Now, years later, Queen Talyien hears from him once again, and all too soon she sees herself betrayed, cut off from all that is familiar, and left on her own to prove that she is the strong queen her father raised her to be.

The other day my husband and I happened to have a conversation about the differences between books written in third and first person. I was making the argument that first person often reads s younger, hence it often being found in YA novels. Since the narration is limited to only one point of view, the narrative has to work hard to draw in details with regards to scene and setting. The narrator is also unreliable to a certain extent as they are only able to speak to other characters' thoughts and motivations through their own lens and perceptions. This leaves a lot of room in the narrative voice to focus on the internal emotions and thoughts of the main character, a strength in particular for YA protagonists and stories where these types of internal musings typically shine. For adult novels, these challenges and limitations are often enough to prompt many authors to stick to the more common third person perspective. All of that to say, this book was an excellent example of an adult fantasy novel turning all of the challenges of first person narration to its advantage.

Talyien has a very distinct voice right off the bat. It's also made clear early in the book that we don't know her entire history and that her views of those around her are formed from her own experience of the world. Her father's history, her own experience as a disliked queen abandoned by her husband, all color her distrusting and stark outlook on humanity. At the same time, she's incredibly brave, stubborn, and determined to do what she thinks is best for her son and her country. I'm hesitant nowadays to make "Game of Thrones" references, but in a lot of ways she reads the way I always imagined Daenerys to be. Talyien can be ruthless and goal-oriented, but, through the very personal nature of first person narration, we also see the vulnerability and self-doubt that continues to plague her. Plague her, but never stop her.

I really enjoyed the world-building in this story. It is a refreshing new world that is pulling from inspirations that are clearly no European. I'd be hesitant to place it anywhere specifically, as it is clearly a fantasy world, but details about the culture, food, and naming conventions all read as coming from Asian inspiration. I believe the author was born in the Philipines, so I imagine that was part of the backbone building up this world. Again, it is challenging to build a compelling and realistically detailed world through only the eyes of one main character who, in theory, would know much of these facts and have no reason to share them with a reader. But the narration is seamless, and as the story expanded, so did the world surrounding this story. The use of flashback also continued to add layers to our understanding of not only Talyien, but the complicated political history of her nation and its many clans.

The story doesn't end on a cliff-hanger, per se, but all is definitely not well at the end of this book. We finally learn some of the secrets that Talyien has held so close to her chest throughout much of the book and these reveals explain much about not only her choices but her general views towards those around her and how she chooses to interact with them. There were definitely some unexpected twists to the story, and I was left not knowing how I felt about certain other characters. This speaks to the very fleshed out nature of even secondary characters. They all felt real, and real people aren't simply good or bad.

I can't wait to get to the next book in this series. Talyien is at a pretty low point and the stakes are incredibly high, not only for her nation, but on a very personal nature for her. Hopefully I can get my hands on the next book soon! I know the author self-published this one before Orbit picked it up, so I'm hoping they will be able to release the second one quickly! Fans looking for a refreshing new fantasy epic featuring a strong queen who doesn't give a sheep what you think of her, this is the book for you!

Rating 8: Talyien is everything I want in my fantasy heroines and I can't wait to see what she does next!

Wow. This book was so different and so much more than what I was expecting. In all the best ways possible and I loved it.

It’s a richly imaginative adult fantasy that’s brilliant to read. This world is so amazingly vivid that I felt like I was living in it. I could so easily vision the world, the places that the story took place in, the food, the disgruntled warlords, all of it. I absolutely loved the world building within this book, I thought it was so good, and I think that it is some of the best world building that I have experienced in any story.

This story is all about the Talyien, know as the Bitch Queen, as she tries to unite her divided land that is pulled apart by the quarelling warlords and the absence of her husband Rayyel. Who left her the night they were meant to be crowned as rulers of Jin-Sayeng, five years ago.

Talyien loves her country, her son and her husband. She wants to bring him home, less for herself than her son and to try to bring some harmony to their land. When she gets an invitation to meet him across the sea in an empire neither of them have any power in, Talyien travels there in the hopes that they can reconcile and go home together.

Queen Talyien was a very different character to what I expected when I first read the blurb for this book. I expected a queen that wouldn’t be afraid to cut off a few heads and to not let anyone tell her what to do, instead Tali is soft-hearted with a tough exterior and blunt personality. She is a very honest character, even if she can be a bit too blunt or harsh sometimes, and appreciates it in others. She’s not one for flowery words, empty promises, etc.


The romance between Talyien and Rayyel was pretty complicated. They’ve been betrothed since Talyien was born and have known each other for almost two decades. There’s just so much between them and it’s not easy to say what will happen to them. In a relationship like their’s, one that began to bring to clans together and to symbolise the end of war and bloodshed, there isn’t really much room for romance. But they could be happy. Maybe.

It’s really hard to say just what their relationship will end up being in the end as there is still so much left between them and so much that needs to be said that hasn’t. I really loved the flashbacks into the past as Talyien grew to know Rai over the years, how their relationship wasn’t prefect and how it began to have cracks in it. I just would have liked more scenes with the two of them in the present day. When they interacted I felt like Rai came alive and became more than just Talyien’s husband and father of her child. The first time they had a scene together in the present was when I really became engrossed in this story.

Their relationship is such an integral part of this story, it’s part of what motivates Tali and moves the story forwards, and yet Tali isn’t very forth coming with the facts. The mystery of what their relationship was/is, what happened on the night of their coronation that sent Rayyel to walk away for five years, how they came to be what they are mixed with the high stakes of their land falling into war or ruin, their sons life being in danger and what might happen next kept me turning the page.

Talyien’s mission to reunite with her husband and bring him home, while also trying to find out who tried to assassinate them was so great to read. There were so many twists and turns, one second I would think I knew what was happening and then a new piece of information would make everything shift and change. I really loved how this story just grew and grew with each chapter. Becoming more complex and intriguing.

I probably could just keep going on and on about this book but then this review might never finish.

It really is an amazing story to read, this book has become one of my favourites and I am so excited to read the next book in this series.

If you love fantasy, complex worlds, witty characters, a queen that is soft, kind, tough and all around amazing then I would say that you should read this book.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a character-driven story about a young technically-a-single-parent queen who was brought up as a symbol of peace in their divided nation, and who has to keep it together despite practically everyone being against her; her mission of reconciliation with her estranged husband has her trapped in another country with few allies and fewer resources.

Talyien belongs to a clan of people who are considered brutish by other clans in her country, and her country itself is considered brutish and backward by the Empire that is their neighbor, and so most of her position is be diplomatic even though she is continuously underestimated. Her being a Queen, equal in ruling power, as opposed to just a Queen subservient to a King means that she isn’t popular and is blamed for everything, even the fact that her husband left her the night before their coronation; them being from warring clans, and him being from the previous long line of rulers means that their relationship is a very big part of the politics of their country. So when he calls her to a ‘neutral’ location in the Empire, she goes in secret to see if they can be reconciled, but an assassination attempt has her separated from her soldiers, wandering the country for allies and supporters who would help her get back.

A dragon alone did not make you a ruler. A dragon did not make loyal followers. Of course, I had neither. What did that make me?

Talyien’s story depends a lot on her characterization – outwardly she is proud, temperamental, and has an image of well, a bitch, but internally, she still has feelings for her, frankly, worthless husband. Her upbringing was such that she was basically told the peace in their nation hinges on their relationship, so she buys into the idea that they have to make it work, and that there is love between them. The reality, however, is that their ‘meeting’ turns out to be as petty as a divorce settlement, and she is sure he is being influenced by the Empire’s officials into making decisions. She is still willing to try for the sake of her country and her young son, when her clan thinks her weak and his clan looks down on her. During her journey, though, she has the chance to take off the mantle of Queen for a time, think over things, have a chance to like someone else for a change. Still, it is not all roses, as she keeps getting caught up in others’ schemes, or has to get out of tricky situations.

That’s a girl’s heart you’ve got, sitting there holding on to that letter like your life depended on it. We grow up, and some of us think we learn, but the truth is we would rather listen to our own lies for as long as there is a sliver of hope that they would turn out correct after all. There is nothing wrong with it. Will the world run on cynicism?

For most of the book, the story is quite engaging, and the pacing is not fast but good enough to keep things exciting and readers on their toes. There are a couple of good twists thrown in, which make the plot building up to something worthwhile. But the ending kind of becomes disappointing, because when it is revealed what happened 5 years ago, it feels so petty, and considering that forms a part of the core of this massive political plot, I felt it was a let-down of sorts. However, the consequences from that do leads into some interesting threads to carry forward into the sequel, so I am looking forward to that.

Bitch Queen- Literally But Figuratively?

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro has been one of my most anticipated reads. Unlike another recent read, it definitely lived up to my expectations, just not for the reasons I expected. K.S.  Villoso's new series gave all the vibes of this ruthless and take no prisoners kind of queen, but really that wasn't the case. Even the first line would leave you to believe that Queen Talyien (Bitch Queen- literally because she is known as the female wolf) is of this personality:

They called me the Bitch Queen, the she-wolf, because I murdered a man and exiled my king the night before they crowned me.

And yes, she even has that reputation. But if there was one (and there literally might only be one) thing my father taught me that stuck with me? Perception is every thing.  It shouldn't be. Perception is rarely truth. However usually that is how the world works. As we get to know the queen, we come to realize that her reputation isn't her reality. Under all that hard-ass Armour? There is this really soft and flawed person. In my experience? That is true of a lot of people in the world. Not everyone. Sometimes under veneers of anger, toughness, bravado, there can be another level of anger, toughness, and bravado.

However, not in this case. And that makes Queen Talyien a complex and complicated character. In a book that is most definitely character driven? That is essential to keeping readers tethered to the story.

Ultimately her problem is what her father taught her. I can't is an abomination of a thought. And it has cursed her to not give up. Ever. LIKE EVER.

Algebra Is Not Applicable To Life

I will die on that hill. The man in the first sentence? Unfortunately it was not her husband, Rayyel. Because that boy is some sort of torment on her heart. I relate. The only difference is my (unfortnately) X would never intentionally treat me like shit on a stick. He would love for us to be best friends. God help me. Truthfully, it would be easier if he did intentionally betray me because it is easier to be angry than this hell hole of depression. But anyway, Rayyel calls for reunion talks and she goes running.

I know this is a bad idea. I mean it is screaming bad idea. But for the love of her people, who by the way hate her, and the love of the husband who betrayed and left her five years before, she goes anyway. And if you think this has a happy ending you aren't paying attention.

During negotiations they are all attack by assassins of unknown origins and now Queen Talyien is stuck on some faraway, hostile planet. Add on the fact that Rayyel, has been captured and she, God help me WOMAN JUST STOP, decides to stay and try to rescue him. This leads me to the only applicable use of Algebra in real life... EVER.- Dear Algebra, stop asking me to find your X. She isn't coming back. And we don't know Y, either.

And from there? It is just one bad decision after another. But you root for her and you want her to do the right thing. Except she keeps not doing the right thing. One. Because she wants it to work for him and two because she thinks working it out with him is best for her people. Kind of like people who stay together for the kids. Mom's are always the first to willing to make all the sacrifices while the guys ... ok maybe they don't assassinate you, but they run off with the <insert real life situation here> and assassinate your heart.

Double Edged Swords

Here's the thing. As absolutely maddening and make no mistake, she is maddening, Queen Talyien can be? You see so much potential in her, if she can just hone her personality traits in the right direction. She is loves with all her heart, is fiercely passionate, dedicated, and doggedly determined to see things through. The problem those traits often blind her and she ends up making the wrong choices and pitching those tents for the wrong people and then making it worse by stubbornly standing by those choices. Rather than thinking, ok I tried to make that work and I almost got assassinated for it, so I'm going to find another man and another way to help my people, she decides to stay in a hostile environment and see it through.

It is like watching teenagers walk right into Jason's machete in Friday the 13th, only you don't care if they die. With Queen Talyien? YOU DAMN CARE. That is the brilliance in Villoso's writing. For all of her bad choices? You can't help but root for her and hope against hope that she will grow and change after each misstep.

I don't want to spoil anything so all I can say is it is a great ending. I do think there will be varying opinions on it. Either way, whether you like it or not? Whether you think it brings any redemption to actions that Queen Talyien takes along the way? I don't think it will matter because this is a series. The bottom line is whether you agree with it or not, whether you like it or not? It is biting and intense enough to keep you going to book two. That is what matters. Personally, being this is a character driven series, I would like to think there will be change over time. Whether that is for better or worse? Only Villoso knows.

Pacing and World Building

Villoso killed it in two ways here. At times I had to remind myself this was the first book in a series. After all, this was a character driven story. After Queen Talyien and Rayyel, there were well developed side characters.

She also does a fantastic job world building. While the physical descriptions brought it off the page and clearly in my mind. It goes beyond that. There was great depth given to each by providing a back story just like you would a character. By doing so, it really added another layer to what I would even consider exceptional world building.

Between the characters and the in-depth world buildings, the pace was never hindered. There wasn't that "info-dump" feeling often found in the first book of a series. There are a lot of first books in a series that I let that slide because it is almost expected. With The Wolf of Oren-Yaro it wasn't even something I had to say, yeah just get through this part and we are off to the races.

How Villoso interweaves the world-building, characters and action off-set that feeling of a first book info-dump. That isn't an easy thing to accomplish and it made the structure/prose much easier to digest than most first books in a series.

Am I surprised at how much I liked The Wolf of Oren-Yaro? Absolutely not. Am I surprised as to why? Yes. But I have no issue with that, at all.

I don’t really read a lot of high fantasy novels but I wouldn’t think twice to get out of my comfort zone if that book is written by a Filipino author and based mainly in FIlipino culture!

Talyien aren dar Orenar is the daughter of a warlord who started a civil war that nearly break their kingdom, Jin-Sayeng. Marrying the heir of their rival clan, Rayyel Ikessar, will bring unity to their nation. But he leaves the night before the coronation. Talyien is left alone with their son and a kingdom to rule. Five years has passed, Talyien receives a letter from Rayyel asking her to meet him. She travels across the sea hoping to finally reconcile with her estranged husband and to fulfill her promise to their son. But life isn’t always easy for Talyien. She ends up being alone in a foreign land after an assassination attempt. She will do everything to survive and return home to her son alive.

This book is written in Talyien’s perspective which was very effective. We get to see everything through her eyes and eventhough she has made a lot of mistakes and can be exasperating at times, I couldn’t help rooting for her. She’s fierce and ruthless. They wouldn’t call her the “Bitch Queen” for nothing, right? But deep inside she just wants the best for her family, her people, and her kingdom. She is flawed and vulnerable but strong and determined. Her backstory was engrossing to read and it really helped me to fully understand her. Khine Lamang, the con artist who became Talyien’s companion, was also an interesting character. He’s quite the opposite of our protagonist. Unlike Talyien who stabs her enemies or people who wronged her without thinking twice, Khine uses his personality and charm to convince other people to do and get what he wants. I would definitely like to read more about Rayyel and Captain Nor.

Eventhough it took me a few chapters to get into the story, I still think that the author did an amazing job on giving just the right amount of details at the right time. The world-building in this book was one of my favorites. I enjoyed the vivid description most especially with food. It was interesting to learn the different clans, their people, and distinct culture as well. It’s fascinating to read. There are magic and mention of dragons which I really want to read more about in the next books! It’s refreshing to read a fantasy novel inspired mainly by Filipino culture. The mention of “puto” (FIlipino rice cake) and “kamayan” (eating with one hand) made me so happy. The author has included “baybayin” (ancient Filipino/Tagalog script) on the chapter pages which was really cool. I have the e-galley so I hope it’s also present in the finished copy. This book is full of shocking plot twists. The last few chapters were gripping and I couldn’t stop reading.

Another thing that I also appreciated about this book is the representation of Filipino women and women in general. It’s pretty obvious that Talyien is still hung up on his husband despite of what he did to her and their son. She simply wants her family to be complete again eventhough she knows it’s impossible to happen. Being a queen isn’t easy as well. She is surrounded by people who have high expectations from her. People who are just waiting for her to make mistakes. People who always have negative things to say no matter what she does. The sad thing is Talyien and these kind of people exist in real life. It’s disheartening that these people don’t see the sacrifices and efforts of women like Talyien. They are quick to judge simply because their expectations (and beliefs) of what a woman should be haven’t met. I know a lot of women who are like Talyien and I’m very proud of them.

Overall, I really had a great time reading this book and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend it especially if you’re looking for a character-driven high fantasy inspired by Southeast Asian culture. You are definitely in for a treat!

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro immediately earned a spot on my TBR when I learned it was a fantasy novel written by a Filipino author and that aspects of the story were inspired by Filipino culture. Plus, it's the kind of fantasy novel that I generally enjoy - a female heroine must do everything she can in order to protect her reign, her kingdom and those she loves. Happily, I did end up really enjoying this one!

It took a little while before I was hooked by the narrative. That has a lot to do with the author's narrative choice to have main character Talyien tell the story as if she were reliving the events in the past, which didn't 100% end up being my cup of tea. But eventually, other aspects of the tale - the intricate setting (with inspiration drawn from Filipino societal structure and culture), the plot (with familiar tropes that I was totally behind) and the characters (fierce and brave and impulsive Talyien (who isn't always right and shows considerable growth by the end of the story); I also really enjoyed the secondary cast of characters and the variety and color their personalities gave to the tale) - reeled me in and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.

For me, with fantasy series, it generally boils down to one thing: Did I end up caring about the characters enough to want to continue their journey in the second book? The answer, in this case, is yes. I'm very curious to see where Villoso intends to take Talyien in the second part of her story. The Wolf of Oren-Yaro was a solid fantasy series starter, and I'd recommend checking it out if the synopsis appeals to you.

This book is absolutely phenomenal! I fell in love after reading the first sentence and I loved every sentence after that.

It feels like Talyien is telling you the story which creates a really comfortable yet exciting atmosphere. It’s been a while since I could get to utterly lost in a story and forget the world around me and I love this book even more because of it!

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a character-driven epic fantasy with a rich and lush world. K.S. Villosos attention to detail was amazing and made it incredibly easy to imagine the streets, markets, the food and the people. I’m a huge fan of world-building and I definitely got all I could wish for.
The way the different cultures, their people and the animosity between them, founded in their history with each other, the small customs in which they differ from each other and that make Talyien stand out … Incredible!

Queen Talyien is such a cool main character and it’s so intriguing to follow her through her journey, to know her thoughts and doubts. Her character development was on point. I loved the way we slowly get to know more and more about what happened 5 years ago. And speaking of 5 years ago … I found it so refreshing that we start at a point were no other books I’ve read would start. Talyien isn’t a little girl anymore. She is an adult, is married and has a 7-year-old son. And she is a Queen.

The way we get flashbacks or simple quotes that reveal how her father was, the way he raised her and how that has influenced her was ingenious.
As well as the little scenes of how she met Rayyel, how their relationship progressed. It shows us how lonely she is and if you haven’t felt for her before, you definitely will after reading those scenes.

I love her determination about doing what she needs to, her understanding of what it means to be Queen, especially in Jin-Sayeng, a fractured country after the brutal war her father caused. She is aware of what her role is, how other people judge her. She has so many layers! And full of contradictions: naive and knowledgeable, fierce and vulnerable, insecure and full of pride, trusting and suspicious. And I love how she slowly learns more about life, about life without the privileges she had growing up as a Princess but also the freedom that can come with being someone else.

I want to say so much more about her but I don’t want to spoil you!

The other characters are just as distinct and most of them aren’t likeable at all! Khine though is a darling and I love him. But even more, I love Talyien’s answers to his questions. Their interactions are pure gold! I marked so many of them!
I’m not gonna say anything about Rayyel because I think it’S best you discover everything about him on your own!

This is a character-driven story but the plot is still fast-paced and very intriguing. There were some twists and turns I didn’t expect and it was amazing following Talyien on her journey.

The world in The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is heavily inspired by Filipino culture and I loved that aspect. There were a lot of small things included that bring this setting to life, like the custom to eat with one's hand, the names of the food and much more.
But she also expertly wove in things as clan warfare or issues like classism and bigotry.

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a mesmerizing story of an ambitious Queen that has to stand tall despite all that stands against her. She is fierce, graceful, resourceful and ruthless. Watch her rise with the challenges. #HailtheBitchQueen

Having read the self-published version a few years back, I knew I was in for a treat. But wow, this version elevates everything. A few scenes are expanded upon, giving a bit more detail. The writing, while excellent before, is simply on another level. When I read THE WOLF OF OREN-YARO, I feel like I'm right there. Right there in the massive markets, crowded streets...even in the dinky alleyways and riverbanks. I appreciated that the pacing was fast, yet still left room to breathe. I eagerly await to see what fantastic things the traditionally published version of THE IKESSAR FALCON will bring.

A lush high fantasy with a greatly written MC. I mean the hashtag for this is #hailthebitchqueen do I really need to write out the reasons she's awesome? Okay, I'll list a few. She is badass but super vulnerable underneath all her pointy layers. She's like Shrek, an ogre/onion with layers. More than that though she is a supremely flawed character with the best intentions at heart and I loved that about our Queen so much. Yes, our, I've decided she's my Queen too, I'm now Oren-Yaro made. Another reason to like her is that she's actually a huge cinnamon roll in disguise and her love is so strong that it sends on her the craziest missions for those she cares for.

Also, this is first-person told from the MC's perspective and it's really refreshing to read a fantasy done in that POV. 

Despite all the fierce fighting, assassination attempts, political turmoil, and plots under plots, this was actually a story of love. Not a romance, but how one person's heart can cause so much trouble and love so fiercely for her people, her son, her husband, and wow, let me tell you, that level of love isn't really given to us in a lot of fantasy books. 

The world-building is on point, it's a diverse and rich world and we've only seen the tip of it! That's beyond impressive, especially because Villoso's world-building never detracts from the plot/storyline, instead, it constantly enhances it. 

There are probably at least 52 reasons I could give you to read this book but about 26 of those reasons are Talyien centred.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by publisher and Caffeine Book Tours as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Shealea @ShutUpShealea and Orbit Books for this opportunity!

This book. Oh gosh this book. When I read the blurb for The Wolf of Oren-Yaro it sounded utterly enthralling to me even though it was rather different from what I usually read. But i just knew I had to read Queen Talyien's story. And I'm so so very glad. 

The book had not a single dull moment for me and this was while I was slumping a bit. The pace was utterly utterly steady, every single sentence moving the plot forward and nothing ever feeling out of place or less/more than required. The only time the pace changes is toward the last perhaps twenty five percent where it all but turned into Flash from the DC world and I was done before I knew what had happened. 

I won't lie, I fell in love with Queen Talyien the second she had uttered her first word in the narrative. You fall straight into her life, her struggles, her pain, her lessons ... her. There was absolutely nothing else she needed to do more than she was, that required me to feel moved by her. At the risk of over-using a cliché, she had me at hello. 

Khine arrives as both a balm to the protagonist and to the readers, providing the much needed moments of lightness and comfort before the world goes to hell again. Khine and the Queen shared strange similarities in life and seemed to learn from one another and their relationship was both immediate and endearing. Not to mention that their wits were evenly-matched and they had me smiling every time they shared page-space.

The variety of personalities that we witness during the course of the story was mind-blowing and the very clear line of demarkation that depicted the difference between one character and the next was just ... I could barely believe how well it was written. 
Agos truly had my trust from the first time I had heard of him and at the same time I feel like I know nothing of him. 
Rai ... I don't particularly know what to feel about him. I think I need to hear a lot more about him before I can even attempt to untangle that personality of his.
Prince Yuebek ... I have nothing to say. I do believe one must experience the emotions he incites for oneself. 

Beware as you enter Queen Tali's world. No is what they seem and at the same time they are everything you can't even imagine them to be. The plot is nothing but twists and surprises.

FIVE stars. Highly highly recommend.

Maaan I forgot how much I absolutely loved this book, and Tali, until I cracked this baby open and started from the beginning again.

I don’t reread books very often, unless I am in a situation like this one, where a book I loved when it was self-published is then traditionally published.. It’s fairly rare, considering the amount that I read in a year, to find books that I’d like to reread in the first place. This is definitely one of them.

This is the story of Talyien aren dar Orenar, the Queen of Jin-Sayeng. The first ever Queen of Jin-Sayeng, and from the often-brutal clan of the Oren-yaro, at that. She was born betrothed to Rayyel Ikkessar, the heir to the Dragonthrone and the son of the leader of a rival clan. So, they were married. They had a son. They were all set to rule jointly, just as their families promised… and then Rayyel left the day before they were crowned.

Five years later, Tali has ruled to the best of her ability, alone, and trying to keep a country full of rival warlords from killing each other, when Rayyel sends her a letter asking to meet… in a city across the sea. Hoping for possible reconciliation, Tali goes. The meeting ends up being an assassination attempt, not only on her but on Rayyel as well, and Tali ends up alone and lost in the foreign Anzhao City.

She befriends a local con-artist-slash-former-medical-student, and he helps her find her way back to where she needs to be… though not without a hearty scoop of shenanigans along the way. Everything from bandits, to crazy princes, to dragons.

This is a very immersive book. I sat down with this one and before I knew it I was a quarter of the way through it. It reads really smoothly, and Tali tells her own story very well. Everything is described in enough detail that I had no problems imagining anything. Food, especially, is talked about a lot here, and as such, I had to put down the book to make food a couple of times. Not a problem though, as it’s always nice to have a little something to read while you’re chowing down on an entire unplanned batch of muffins.

Tali is one of those characters that you can’t help but cheer for, but who also doesn’t always make the best decisions. I want all of the best things for Tali, but she very realistically does not have the sort of street smarts that she needs to not die horribly in the slums of a dangerous city. But she’s going to try anyway, because she isn’t weak and refuses to seem weak in front of anyone, whether they know who she is or not. Enter Khine: the all-around-good-guy-except-for-the-con-artist-thing. I want everything good in the entire universe for Khine because he is kind of impossible not to like. He’s just a good dude. He helps Tali even when there’s really nothing in it for him. There aren’t many people like that in Tali’s world.

Fantastically written and full of ups and downs and twists and turns and events that, had I not known they were coming because I’ve read this book before, would have surprised me all over again. Allies you can’t help but love, enemies that you can’t help but loathe, and a main character who navigates through an unfamiliar world of magic, monsters, and maniacs with a sword, some snark, and stubbornness. This is an even better read the second time around, but I’m still kind of jealous of all those people who get to read it for the first time and experience all of the surprises it has in store.

Thanks to the author, as well as Orbit for the review copy!

The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is nothing like I expected. From almost the beginning I was shocked and my expectations were quickly decimated. What I also loved was how strong, but also vulnerable Talyien is. From the beginning I could appreciate the ways she's had to be strong as a ruler with wolves constantly circling her. But what intrigued me was how she also maintains a sense of vulnerability, of being a tremendously clever, strong, and proud ruler, but also a human underneath it all.

Talyien is complex, as she should be, and The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a book that not only celebrates this complexity, but the choices she must make. While the mystery of what happened between her and her husband pervades the book with a sense of suspense, and a tinge of confusion, as readers we are able to witness Talyien's perspective. The ways she has protected herself against what has wounded her, but her determination to prevail and make difficult decisions. It's like watching two people fight with scars, old blades, and memories in the dark.

A challenging story about complex characters in a flawed society, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is a book that takes a long time to get to a point where it offers us any answers, but it’s a fascinating journey getting there.

K.S. Villoso challenges so many conventions of the fantasy genre, it’s hard to know where you stand with the story or what to expect. It was one of those rare novels that honestly left me with no idea where it might be headed. Everytime I thought I had a grasp on a thread or a relationship, she pulled a fast one, redirecting the story and denying any promise of easy closure. For a book that is so much about love and romance, there is very little of either to be found upon the page. There are a myriad of moments where you expect Queen Talyien to give in, to take a lover, or simply acknowledge a friend, but Villoso subverts every expectation.

The pacing and story structure here are so odd, I can’t decide whether they are flaws that hold it back or facets and propel it forward. The novel opens with a murder that literally changes everything, sundering a marriage and setting a realm on a path to ruin, but it is not until the closing chapters that we find out who was murdered or why. There is so much that Queen Talyien holds back, and what she is hiding proves to be far more important than what she reveals. What seems like a simple story of simple motives becomes something else entirely at the 80% mark with revelations that shake the very foundation of the story. Some of the plots and betrayals revealed are fitting, perhaps even obvious in hindsight, but others are completely beyond anything we could possibly know or expect.

This is a novel that succeeds, for the most part, because of the strength of its characters. Queen Talyien is frustrating, exasperating, and infuriating, too much of a self-proclaimed Bitch Queen to be truly sympathetic, but we do emphasize with her. I found myself questioning her motives and her actions repeatedly, so much so that I was all but screaming at the book. For such a strong woman, a Bitch Queen destined to rule, she spends a lot of time resenting her father’s shadow and mourning the abandonment of her husband. She’s human, but the way she flips from angry defiance to self-pitying sorrow does get tiresome. Or, at least it does until we begin to get partial answers in the closing chapters, which suddenly casts many of those decisions in a very different light.

Kline, the physician/con-artist who assists her throughout the story is probably the only completely decent human being in the book, but he’s surrounded by such filth and degradation, we never fully trust him, instead expecting betrayal at every turn. He’s not just a source of light, but of humor in a book that sorely needs it. At the risk of giving anything away, Yuebek, fifth son of the Emperror, is far and away the most interesting character in the novel, even if we don’t meet him until the second half. We have no idea whether he is an insane monster or a calculating fiend, but his chapters are so vastly different from anything else in the novel, we’re left reeling by every new development, and shocked by deeper revelations. I loathed him, and yet my heart raced with excitement whenever he stepped onto the page.

As novels go, The Wolf of Oren-Yaro is fascinating and yet frustrating at the same time. I’m still not sure whether I felt cheated by the twists and revelations at the end, or whether I want to applaud Villoso for pulling them off. As the first part of a saga, however, this is a opening that gets its hooks in deep and which has me anxious to see how things develop in The Ikessar Falcon – but don’t read that blurb until you’ve finished reading this, or you’ll spoil those final twists.

Another fantastic read this year!

As the queen who bears the burden made by her father, Talyien married Rayyel, an Ikessar heir, to unite and reign their kingdom. But, everything ends quickly when Rayyel left her alone on their coronation day. That’s where the story will start, and as we flip the pages, we will get more of Queen Talyien’s story. And how she became who she is now and who she might become in the future.

I loved the description of Queen Talyien in the book, and as far as I know, she lived up to it. She might be called the bitch queen, but I know that she only wants the best for her country and of her child. Despite many obstacles in her ruling, she stayed strong and admirable.

Another character that I loved is Khine, a con artist that Queen Talyien met on the streets. I don’t want to say more information about him, but I love him! As for the other characters, they all have their own personalities that you will either love or hate. It depends on how you will see it.

Now, let’s talk about one of K.S. Villoso’s strength in the story. What I loved the most, aside from her writing Queen Talyien’s character, is the world-building in this novel. The culture and traditions that we see in the country, where Queen Talyien will get stranded on, will make you appreciate the story and what is happening to our main character.

I also love the part where I am near the end because, in those parts, I was able to be engrossed and pulled into the story. The only thing that I didn’t like was how some parts seem to drag me out of the story, but it is very rare, like once or twice only.

Overall, The Wolf of Oren-yaro will give you a ride to an unknown place where you need to sew all the pieces back into a whole to understand the story of Queen Talyien. This is also a twisted tale of Queen Talyien’s journey towards getting all the answers that she needs to know dating back to her husband leaving her behind to manage the country. I am recommending this to all fantasy readers.